Grafter Dan Gosling's energy praised by Cherries boss Eddie Howe

BOSS Eddie Howe hailed energiser Dan Gosling after the midfielder had been revealed as the Premier League’s hardest worker.

The 28-year-old tops the rankings for distance covered per game of players who have made at least 10 top-flight starts this season.

Former Plymouth youngster Gosling has travelled a staggering 13.2km on average, slightly ahead of Liverpool’s James Milner.

And he is expected to continue putting in the hard yards when Cherries visit Huddersfield Town on Sunday (12noon).

Howe told the Daily Echo: “Dan is probably playing the biggest role he has with consistent selection this season.

“I am delighted for him in that respect, he is a great character, a great individual and someone you want in your team.

“He is always someone you can turn to and rely on to give a very good, honest performance.

“I think a lot of his work goes unnoticed. If you didn’t get those stats, you wouldn’t give it as much credibility as we do.”

Tireless Gosling also travels in a swift fashion – his average speed of 8.1km per hour is the second best in the division behind Brighton’s Pascal Gross.

“The modern game is all about your physical attributes and running ability,” said Howe.

“The game gets quicker and quicker and I think that will continue to be the case, so the athletic side takes even more importance. Dan has always been outstanding in that respect.

“Given how we play, the running side of things and the selfless running for your team-mates and covering of positions he does brilliantly.

“I think that has been a big part of our recent good form.”

Gosling has featured 20 times for Cherries in all competitions this season and has formed a flourishing partnership with England under-21 international Lewis Cook in recent weeks.

The duo have started six of Cherries' past seven league fixtures, during which Howe’s men have set a club-record unbeaten run in the top flight.

Asked whether he had seen the pairing coming, Howe replied: "Probably not in the sense it would not be a partnership I looked at and made a conscious decision to put them together.

"But I think they found their way into the team through their very good, consistent performances and they have formed a very good partnership through time. I think they have developed that.

“When one has attacked the other has held and vice versa. I have been pleased with the energy they have brought the team.

"They played together at Birmingham and did well that day and showed signs of what was to come. But they have had different journeys to get into the team.

"Lewis was impressing and gradually he forced his way into the team and Dan has done it before, he has been outstanding for us in the Premier League in the previous two seasons and had to be patient this time round.

"But now he has come in he has been really good, so I am really pleased for them both.”

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